This Pesticide Is In 75% Of The Honey Found From Around The World

When a group of researchers started collecting honey samples from all over the world they never imagined what they are going to see. The study found that 75% of those samples contained a type of pesticide called Neonicotinoid.

Macro catch of bee pollinating yellow flower. Macro photo

Effects of the pesticide

The pesticide is not harmful to humans but it has been linked to declining number of bees around the world. Bees pollinate 90% of the crops we grow and if something happens to this species the whole Earth will change. It would be disastrous for humans and also other species.

The bee population has declined in last decade. The bee population around the world have been struck with Colony Collapse Disorder. The reason behind this disease is still unknown and it has been linked to mites, pesticides, virus, fungus, or some combination of these factors. Though this study suggests something completely different. Researchers are investigating the relation of the high concentrations of Neonicotinoid with the Colony Collapse Disorder.

Neonicotinoids are nicotine-like substance and it effects bee’s neural networks. These pesticides were first introduced in the 90’s. The concentration of these neonicotinoids was most in North America and Asia. Neonicotinoid was banned in 2013 because of its harmful effects on the bee population. Clearly, the ban was ignored by the bee farmers around the world.

Ann Bryan, spokeswoman for Syngenta ( Neonicotinoid manufacturer ) claimed the concentration found in honey samples are 50 times lower than the amount which could harm bee population. Jeffrey Donald, a spokesman for Bayer Crop Science ( another Neonicotinoid manufacturer ) said the study “perpetuates the myth that exposure to low levels of neonicotinoids implies risk, even though there is no compelling scientific evidence to support this conclusion.”

We certainly can’t be sure of that claim. We have to wait before researchers come to any conclusion.